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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| New military aviation body set up | New military aviation body set up |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A new independent military aviation authority is to be set up following the fatal crash of an RAF Nimrod, the defence secretary has announced. | A new independent military aviation authority is to be set up following the fatal crash of an RAF Nimrod, the defence secretary has announced. |
| The organisation will begin regulating military aviation activities from next April, Bob Ainsworth said. | The organisation will begin regulating military aviation activities from next April, Bob Ainsworth said. |
| The decision comes after a critical report into the Nimrod disaster which killed 14 men in Afghanistan in 2006. | The decision comes after a critical report into the Nimrod disaster which killed 14 men in Afghanistan in 2006. |
| Two senior air force officers named in the report are being investigated by RAF police, Mr Ainsworth added. | |
| An inquiry into the crash of the Nimrod three years ago found that it was caused by a fuel leak and was "preventable". | An inquiry into the crash of the Nimrod three years ago found that it was caused by a fuel leak and was "preventable". |
| The spy plane blew up shortly after refuelling, killing everyone on board. | The spy plane blew up shortly after refuelling, killing everyone on board. |
| 'Lamentable job' | 'Lamentable job' |
| A subsequent review by Charles Haddon-Cave QC, published in October, accused the MoD of sacrificing safety to cut costs. | A subsequent review by Charles Haddon-Cave QC, published in October, accused the MoD of sacrificing safety to cut costs. |
| It said the crash occurred because of a "systemic breach" of the military covenant. | It said the crash occurred because of a "systemic breach" of the military covenant. |
| And a safety review of the Nimrod MR2 carried out by the MoD, BAE Systems and QinetiQ was branded a "lamentable job". | And a safety review of the Nimrod MR2 carried out by the MoD, BAE Systems and QinetiQ was branded a "lamentable job". |
| Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Ainsworth reiterated his apology to the families of the victims, who were all based at RAF Kinloss. | Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Ainsworth reiterated his apology to the families of the victims, who were all based at RAF Kinloss. |
| He told MPs: "The Nimrod XV230 was lost as a result of a number of failings in the MoD and industry over a period of some three decades. | He told MPs: "The Nimrod XV230 was lost as a result of a number of failings in the MoD and industry over a period of some three decades. |
| "Opportunities to discover and avoid the dangers, particularly during development of the safety case, were missed. | "Opportunities to discover and avoid the dangers, particularly during development of the safety case, were missed. |
| "In part this was due to specific errors. It was also because the MoD's aviation safety processes had become too cumbersome, complex and lacking in transparency and accountability. | "In part this was due to specific errors. It was also because the MoD's aviation safety processes had become too cumbersome, complex and lacking in transparency and accountability. |
| "Despite the efforts of many hard-working men and women in the MoD and private sector to deliver safe aircraft, the result was simply not good enough." | "Despite the efforts of many hard-working men and women in the MoD and private sector to deliver safe aircraft, the result was simply not good enough." |
| He said the aim of establishing the authority was to ensure "the highest safety standards". | |
| It would be led by a three-star officer and staffed by 250 people, who would regulate, audit and assure all military aviation activities, he said. | |
| The two serving officers under military police investigation did not currently hold positions related to safety, MPs were told. | |
| The Defence Secretary also said a review was under way into contract conditions between the MoD and industry. | |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox welcomed the response to the report he described as "the most damning we had ever seen". | |
| Blew up | Blew up |
| Fourteen crewmen, based at RAF Kinloss in Moray, died when the aircraft - XV230 - blew up after air-to-air refuelling when leaking fuel made contact with a hot air pipe. | Fourteen crewmen, based at RAF Kinloss in Moray, died when the aircraft - XV230 - blew up after air-to-air refuelling when leaking fuel made contact with a hot air pipe. |
| The 14 men killed on the Nimrod were: | The 14 men killed on the Nimrod were: |
| Flt Lt Steven Johnson, 38, from Collingham, Nottinghamshire, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28, from Bournemouth, Dorset, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40, from Redruth, Cornwall, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, 39, from Clatterbridge, Merseyside and Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, 28, from Liverpool. | Flt Lt Steven Johnson, 38, from Collingham, Nottinghamshire, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28, from Bournemouth, Dorset, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40, from Redruth, Cornwall, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, 39, from Clatterbridge, Merseyside and Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, 28, from Liverpool. |
| Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, 48, from Tankerton, Kent, Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42, from Dundee, Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell, 48, from Newport, Shropshire, and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies, 49, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Sgt Benjamin James Knight, 25, from Bridgwater, Sgt John Joseph Langton, 29,from Liverpool and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam, 42, from Manchester. | Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, 48, from Tankerton, Kent, Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42, from Dundee, Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell, 48, from Newport, Shropshire, and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies, 49, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Sgt Benjamin James Knight, 25, from Bridgwater, Sgt John Joseph Langton, 29,from Liverpool and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam, 42, from Manchester. |
| L/Cpl Oliver Simon Dicketts, of the Parachute Regiment, from Wadhurst and Royal Marine Joseph David Windall, 22, from Hazlemere. | L/Cpl Oliver Simon Dicketts, of the Parachute Regiment, from Wadhurst and Royal Marine Joseph David Windall, 22, from Hazlemere. |